Avalanche Forecast
Cariboos
New snow is falling on numerous weak layers. As the snow gains slab properties, both natural and human-triggered avalanches will become more likely. Assess the upper snowpack to observe for these slab properties. Cautious route finding is advised.
Avalanche Problem 1: Persistent Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Avoid open slopes and convex rolls at treeline where buried surface hoar may be preserved.
- Use conservative route selection. Choose moderate-angled and well-supported terrain.
Avalanche Problem 2: Storm Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Up to 20 cm of new snow, with the highest amounts in the south of the region, is sitting on variable surfaces and may not bond well to them. Touchy slab avalanches may form when the new snow gains slab properties as well as in lee features.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Avoid exposure to terrain traps where the consequence of a small avalanche could be serious.
- Use caution when entering lee areas. Recent wind loading may have created wind slabs.
Avalanche Summary
Numerous small loose avalanches have been reported in the region over the past few days. Slab avalanches are becoming more likely with new snowfall, as the upper snowpack settles.
Snowpack Summary
10-20 cm of new snow fell on surface hoar in sheltered slopes and a sun crust on steep solar aspects and may not bond well to them. The snow also may have fallen with moderate southwesterly winds in the alpine, which could have produced small wind slabs in lee features.
The new snow could create a dangerous slab above buried weak layers. Numerous persistent weak layers exist deeper in the snowpack. Dry snow overlies two layers composed of weak and feathery surface hoar, with the deeper layer (December 15) buried 30 to 60 cm. This layer is shallower in the north of the region and deeper in the south of the region. The weak layer is found most often at treeline and below treeline. If the dry snow above the weak layers becomes more cohesive and forms a slab, the setup has the potential to create easily-triggerable destructive slab avalanches.
Deeper in the snowpack at depths of about 70 to 100 cm, a rain crust from November is producing variable snowpack test results, from sudden fracture characters to no result. This layer is considered dormant for now, but could be triggered where the snowpack is thin.
Please share your observations through the Mountain Information Network.
Weather Forecast
SUNDAY: Cloudy with light flurries, accumulation 5 to 15 cm, light southwesterly winds building to strong over the day, alpine temperature near -8 C, freezing level near valley bottom.
MONDAY: Cloudy with light flurries, accumulation 5-10 cm, light southwesterly winds, alpine temperature near -6 C, freezing level near 1000 m.
TUESDAY: Cloudy with light flurries, accumulation 10-15 cm, light to moderate southerly winds, alpine temperature dropping to -12 C over the day, freezing level near valley bottom.
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Around 30 to 60 cm of snow sits above a touchy weak layer. As this snow continues to settle and gains slab properties, a dangerous slab that is easily triggered may form.